In anentry posted yesterday morning, I noted that according to AP, Obama had announced a deadline of March 18 for House passage of the health care bill, but that according to the New York Times, Obama was trying to push the legislation through in the “next several weeks.” So I asked, “Which is it?”

Well, according to Politico, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says that he never heard of, and certainly was not on board with, any March 18 deadline:

“None of us has mentioned the 18th, other than [White House spokesman Robert Gibbs],” Hoyer said in response to a question about whether Congress can pass a health care package by March 18, the date laid out last week by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. “We are trying to do this as soon as possible. That continues to be our objective.”

In other words, the White House declared a deadline for the House to pass the legislation without discussing this with the House Leadership.

I’m telling you, this is starting to look like Rasputin territory. It’s starting to look like Nixon’s Final Days territory. Except that Obawan has no Alexander Haig to organize his activities and smooth him through the transition. Instead, he has a chief of staff who angrily pokes congressmen in the chest while they’re showering in the House gym.

Remember The Naked Gun? How about The Naked Chief of Staff?

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Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass believes Massa’s shower story, because he once had a similar confrontation with Emanuel in the Tribune newsroom (though fully clothed), in which Emanuel was poking him with his finger.